Ignition apparatus



Dea l2, 1933- c. H. DAvls, JR 1,939,438

IGNITION APPARATUS ff! @@:QJQQ i Patented Dec. 12, 1,9330

UNITED STATES IGNITION Charles Hall Davis, Jr.,

APPARATUS Anderson, Ind., assignor Y to Delco-Remy Corporation, Anderson, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application December 21, 1931, Serial No. 582,355 Renewed July 22, 1932 10 Claims.

This invention relates toV ignition apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engineY requiring the production of a plurality of spark- `ing impulses during each explosion period, for example, a twelve cylinder internal combustion engine having two spark gaps per engine cylin-` der and having symmetrical firing intervals.

One type of ignition system to which the present invention relates is shown in my copending application Serial Number 573,602, filed November 7, 1931. This application discloses a system comprising two sparking impulse generators operated alternately and eachV generator providing two ignition spark impulses simultaneously.

The ignition distributor of said application comprises a head having a circular row of posts connected with engine spark gaps and cooperating with two distributor rotor conductors each having a main stem which moves past the spark gap posts of the distributor and each having a plurality of branches which move past other distributor terminals arranged in another row,. each terminal being connected with a terminal of a sparking impulse generating device. My said application discloses the fact that as the number of engine cylinders ofthe engine increases the angular spacing between I certain `of the sparking impulse generator terminals decreases, and the angular spacingbetween the spark gap posts of the distributor decreases.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ignition system embodying some of the principles of my said application but also providing a new arrangement of spark gap posts and sparking impulse generator terminals which will permit the use of a distributor head of relatively small dimensions while maintaining sufficient distance between the various posts and terminals to prevent short circuit. Accordingly, the 40 posts connected with engine spark gaps are arranged in two staggered rows so as to increase the distance between adjacent posts and a new arrangement of rotor branches and sparking impulse generator terminals in the distributor head is provided in order that the later terminals may be spaced apart the maximum angular distance.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will ybe apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown. V

In the drawing: n

Figs. l and 2 taken together constitute a wiring diagram showing a form of the present in- (Cl. 12S-148) vention. In Fig. 1, the circles numbered 1 to 12 respectively represent the cylinders of a twelve cylinder internalcombustion engine. Each cylinder has two spark gaps A and'B. Ignition current is supplied by a storage battery 20 grounded at 21 and connected by a switch 22 with sparking impulse generating devicesV 23 -and 24 each comprising two ignition coils as shown or induction apparatus each having a secondary provided with two insulated terminals. In the disclosed form, the induction generator 23 comprises primary coils Pl and P2 cooperating respectively with secondary coils S1 and S2. The induction generator 24 comprises primary coils P3 and P4 cooperating respectively with second-v aries S3 and S4. The primaries P1 and P2 are connected with a circuit interrupter 30 and the primaries P3 and P4 are connected together with .a circuit interrupter 40. The interrupters 30 and 40 respectively comprise leaf spring conductors'31 and 41 which conduct current to circuit breaker levers 32 and 42 carrying contacts 33 and 43 v cooperating, respectively, with grounded contacts 34 and 44. The levers 32 and 42 carry, respectively, rubbing blocks 35 and 45 which are urged by the springs 31 and 4l, respectively, into engagement with a cam 49 which is driven by the engine at one-half engine speed yfor va four cycle engine or at engine speed for a two cycle engine. The contacts 33, 34 are paralleled by a condenser 36 and the contacts 43 and 44 by a condenser 46. As the cam 49 rotates,

it operates upon the rubbing blocks 35 and 45 alternately inV order to separate the pairs of contacts 33,134 and 43, 44. respectively alternately in order to effect alternately the discharge of the generators 23 and 24.

When the contacts 33, 34 are separated, the secondaries S1 and S2 are simultaneously discharged, the `spark impulses being conducted by wires 61 and 62, respectively, to posts 51 :i1-S1v and 51 #S2 located in a distributor head 50. Separation of the pair of contacts 43 and 44 effects the discharge of the induction generator 2,4 Vand sparking impulses are simultaneously generated in the secondaries S3 and S4 and are conductedl by wires 63 and 64, respectively, to distributor posts 51 #S3 and 5l #S4 The four posts 51 are arranged at for the twelve cylinder dual ignition and cooperate with two distributing conductors or rotors 52 and 53 mounted upon a rotor block not shown and driven by the cam shaft which drives the cam 49. The rotor 52 has a plurality of branches marked R1, R2 and R3 spacedat 60 for a twelve cylinder dual ignition jacent terminal 51 '#83 mum `distance apart.

engine and likewise the rotor 53 has three branches marked R4, R5 and R6. R1 to R6 inclusive move past the posts 51 and thereby collect sparking impulses from these posts 51. The rotors 52 and 53 are provided with segments 54 and v respectively which extend, respectively, into proximity to inner row of posts 56 and an outer row of posts 57 arranged in staggered relation. It will be understood that the posts 56 all terminate in the same plane and that that plane is spaced substantially from the plane of the ends of posts 57. In this way the segment 55 can extend across the circle of the posts 56 without coming close to the lower Vends of posts 56. The` main portions of the rotors 52 and 53 are preferably located in the same plane. Hence, the segment 54 has an upwardly extending portion 54a which moves in proximity to the posts 56.

Assuming that the cam 49 rotates clockwise, it will be apparent that the contacts 33 and l54 are separated while the contacts 43A and 44 remain in engagement. 'When this occurs, the'induction generator 23 will be'discharged, sparking impulses being generated in secondaries Si and S2v and conducted to distributor posts 51 #Slg 51 #52, These impulses will be conducted by rotor branches R1 and R4 of rotors 52 and 53 and thence by branches 54 and 55 to spark gap posts 56 #lA.-S1'-Rl and 57 #iB-SZ-RA. The in" dicia lAf-Sl-,El means that the spark impulse is provided forspark gap A of cylinder 1, that said impulseV is generated in secondary S1 and is distributed through rotor branch R1. Similarly,

the indicia 1Br-S2a-R4 means that a spark im- 'pulse was provided for spark gap B of cylinder 1, .that said impulse is generated in secondary S2 and was distributed through rotor branch R4.

When the cam 49 rotates 30 further, the contacts 43 and 44 will be separated while contacts 33 and 34 remain in engagement; rotor segment 54 will be moved adjacent posts 5S ZAV-'SS-RZV; segment 55 will be moved adjacent post 57 #2B-S4-R5 rotor branch R2 will be moved aflandY rotor R5 will be moved adjacent terminal 51 #S4 and the other two diametrically opposite terminals 51 #Si and #S2 Will not be adjacent any of the branches of therd'istributor rotor conductors. Therefore, the spark impulses generated in secondary S3 will be conducted through spark gap A oi cylinder through rotor branch R2 andthe spark impulse generator of secondary S4 will be conducted to gap B of cylinder 2 through rotor branchl R5.

With this'explanation, the meaning of the other Y indicia applied to posts 56 and 57 will be clearly understood.

It is therefore apparent that the arrangement of posts 51 and rotor branches R1 to R6 is such asto permit the' separating of posts 51 the maxi- Taking the branches R1 to R6 collectively, the angular spacing 360 divided by one-half the number of engine cylinders or 60. Since the rotors rnove 30 during inter- A vals between iiring, it is obvious that the spacingof the terminals 51 n iust be 11/2 60 or 90 to give the maximum spacing between the terminals Y 51. The maximum spacing could be 21/2 60 or 150 but this would bring some of the terminals 51 only 30 apart which would not be desirable rv using a relatively small distributorv head.

'Obviously the presentV invention may be applied to engines having other numbers of cylinders.'

For example, a sixteen cylinder dual ignition engine could be fired by two alternately operatedsparking impulse generatorsV each providing two The present invention contemplates the use of a distributor having its spark gap posts arranged circularly concentrically with other posts which are connected with sparking impulse generati means. The distributor comprises also a plurality of distributing conductor rotors equal in'nunibL-,r to the number of spark gaps to be fired atea'ch' explosion period. Each rotor has a main segment movable past spark gap posts and a plurality of breaches which cooperate in predetermined recurrent sequence with the spari: generator posts of the distributor to conduct sparking impulses therefrom to certain gap postsl of the distributor. t will be noted that each rotor branch operates with a spari; generator post but once during each cycle of operation ci a distributing rotor. lEach cycle of operati n of a distributor rotor one sequence oi operation of the rotor branches. For example, the cycle of the rotor 52 is during theoperation ci Vits branches Rl, R2 and R3 once in sequence. Rotor 52 has four cycles d'uringone revolution. In'thedisclosed embodiment of the invention the branches oit each distributing conductor function the order of their arrangement with respect to their arms, that is, the arms and of the conductor 52 function in the order named. It will be noted that the branches of a conductor cooperate with the spark generator posts in the order 'of their arrangement with respect tothe (distributor, for example, the branches of the 'conductor 52 will cooperate with the posts S1, S3 and S2 in the order named. This invention contemplates the use of sparking generator'pos s which are arranged diametrically Vopposite in pairs, oneV pair loo of posts being connected with one sparking impulse generating device and another of posts being connected with another sparking yimpulse generating device, said sparking impulse generating devices being operated alternately the engine. V l y Y While the form oi embodiment of present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be' understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming WithinY the scope oitheclaims which follow.

What is claimed is folios n l 1. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines having N explosion periods during each enginecycle and two spark gaps fired simultaneously at each iiring instant, two sparking impune generators each providing two'sparking impulses simultaneously; engine operated means for charging the generators alternate y; andjdi^ tributing means comprising a having posts each connected with a gap and having four sparking impulse generator terminals arranged in a circular row and arranged in pairs, the ter- ,V minals of each pair being diametrioaliy opposite,

and two engine driven conducting rotors each having a segment cooperating with a part of the distributor posts and each having same number of branches, the total number of branches ci both the rotors being and the angular spacing being said branches cooperating pairs alternately in recurrent Vsecr-rence with pairs ci sparking impulse generator terminals, the closest angular 401 spacing of said terminals being i pulse generating means controlled by theV engin?` and a distributor having circularly arranged posts connected respectively with the vspark gaps and having, concentrically with said spark posts, other posts connected with the spark generating n means, and having distri?" .ting conductor rotors having main segments which move bets/'een the spark gap posts and the" ark generator posts, each rotor having a plurality of branches which operate in a predetermined recurrent sequence to receive impulses from the spark generator posts,

each branch operating but once during each cycle of operation ci the rotor, said cycle being the functioning oi the branches through said sequence of operation. 1

3. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines having a plurality of explosion periods during each engine cycle and requiring the tiring of a plurality of spark at each explosion period, comprising in combination, sparking iL 7G pulse generating means controlledby the engine,

and a distributor having circularlyV arranged posts connected respectivelywithA the spark gaps and having, concentrically with said spark gap posts, other posts connected With the spark `generating `means, and having distributing conductor rotors having 'main segmentsV which move between the spark gap postsjand the spark generator posts, each rotor havingY a plurality of branches Which cooperate with the spark gap posts in thev order Voi arrangement of the branches with respect to the arm, each branch operating but once during each cycle 'of operation of the arm, said cycle being. the functioning of the branches once through said sequence of operation.

4. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines having a plurality of explosion periods during each engine cycle and requiring the'ring of a plurality of spark gaps at each explosion period, coni rising in combination, sparking impulse generating means controlled by the engine, and a distributor having circularly arranged posts connected-respectively with the spark gaps and having, concentrically with said spark gap posts, other posts connected with the spark generating means and located equi-distant in the same circularv rotors having main segments whichV move between the spark gap posts and the spark generator posts, Veach rotor having a plurality of branches which operate in a predetermined sequence to receive impulses fromthe spark generator posts, the spark generator posts and the conductor rotor branches being so arranged that posts .cooperate in regular succession with the branches of a conductor rotor.`

5 Ignition apparatus for internal combustion ei having a plurality of explosion periods during each engine cycle and requiring the iiring of a pluralityoi spark gaps at each explosion period, comprising, in combination, a plurality of sparkingl impulse generating devices operated alternately by the engine, and a distributor havcircularly arranged posts connected respectively With the spark gaps and having, concen tricady With said spark gap posts, other posts arranged diametrically opposite in pairs, said pairs of diametrically opposite posts being connested respectively with the sparking impulse generating devices, and distributing conductor rotorshaving main segments which move between the sparkgap posts and the spark generator posts and which each have a plurality of branches so arranged with respect to the posts that, at each explosion period, a branch of each rotor Will be located respectively adjacent each post of a pair of diametrically opposite posts and that the branches Wiil operate in predetermined recurrent sequence to receive sparking impulses fromthe spark generator posts, each'branch operating but Vonce during each cycle of operation of the rotor,

Y centrically with. said spark gap posts,` other posts arranged diametrically opposite in pairs, said vpairs of diainetrioally opposite posts being connected respectively with the sparking impulse generating devices, and distributing conductor rotors having main segments which move between 4 the spark posts and the spark generator posts and .vhich each have a plurality of branches so arranged with respect to the posts that, at each row, and having distributing conductorY explosion period. ,a branch of each rotor will be located respectively adjacent'each post of a pair of diametrically opposite posts, and that the branches will cooperate with the spark gap posts in the order of arrangement of the branches with respect to the rotor, each branch operating but once during each cycle of operation of the rotor, said cycle being the functioning of the branches once through said sequence of operation.

'7. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines having a plurality of explosion periods during each engine cycle and requiring the firing of a plurality of spark gaps at each explosion period, comprising in combination, a plurality of sparking impulse generating devices operated alternately by the engine, and a distributor having circularly arranged posts connected respectively with the spark gaps and having, concentrically with said spark gap posts, other posts arranged diametrically opposite in pairs, said pairs of diametrically opposite posts being connected respectively vwith the sparking impulse 'erated by the engine,and a distributor comprisgenerating devices and distributing conductor rotors having main segments which move between the spark gap posts and the spark generator posts and which each have a plurality of branches so arranged with respect to the posts that, at each explosion period, a branch of each rotor will be located respectively adjacent each post of a pair of diametrically opposite posts and that the branches will operate in predetermined recurrent sequence to receive sparking impulses from the spark generator posts, each branch operating but once during each cycle of operation of the rotor, the posts being cooperated with in regular order ofarrangement with respect to the distributor during each cycle of operation of a rotor, said cycle being the functioning of the branches once through said sequence of operation.

8. AIgnition apparatus for internal combustion engines having N explosion periods during an .engine cycle and requiring S sparkv gaps to be red at each explosion period, comprising in combination, sparking impulse generating means oping circularly arranged posts connected respectively with spark gaps and other posts connected with the spark generating means and comprising ing between the spark gap posts and the spark S distributor rotors having main segments passgenerator posts and each having B- (a plurality of) branches cooperating in recurrent sequence with the spark generator posts, each branch functioning but once during a cycle of operation yof its distributor rotor, and each distributor arm operating through cycles of operation during each cycle of engine operation, said cycle of distributor arm operation being the functioning of the branches thereof once through said sequence of operation.

9. Ignitionv apparatus for internal combustion engines having a plurality of explosion periods during each engine cycle and requiring the ring of a plurality of spark gaps at each explosion period, comprising in combination, sparking impulse generating means controlled by the engine and a distributor having circularly arranged posts connected respectively with the spark gaps and having, concentrically with said spark gap posts, other posts connected with the spark generating means and having distributing conductor rotors having main segments which move between the spark gap posts and the spark generator posts, each rotor having a plurality of branches which operate in a predetermined recurrent sequence to receive impulses from the spark generator posts, each branchoperating but once during each cycle of operation of the rotor, said cycle being the functioning ofthe branches once through said sequence of operation, the branches of the rotors being equiangularly spaced by an amount equal to 360 degrees divided by the total number of branches of all the rotors.

10. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines having a plurality of explosion periods during each engine cycle and requiring the ring of a plurality of spark gaps at each explosion period, comprising in combination, sparking impulse generating means controlled by the engine and a distributor having posts connected respectively with spark gaps, said posts being arranged in staggered relation in two concentric rows, saidV distributor having, concentrically with said spark gap posts, other posts connected with the spark generating means and having two distributing conductor arms which cooperate respectively with the concentric rows of spark gap posts one arm being longer than the other, each rotor having a plurality of branches which operate in a predetermined recurrent sequence to receive impulsesv from the spark generator posts each branch operatingbut once during each cycle of operation of the rotor, said cycle being the functioning of the branches once'through said sequence of operation, the branches of the rotors being equiangularly spaced by an amount equal to 360 degrees divided by the total number of branches of all the rotors.

CHARLES HALL DAVIS, JR. 

